Out on a training exercise

I wish I had been more prepared but the take off happened just so quickly.
When I went into Maxwell Park there was no sign of the swans so I presumed that they were on the far side of the small island .... but they were not.
There is a very large pop up puddle that regularly appears after heavy rainfall and melting frost ..... at the far side of the puddle the four swans were lined up with suitable spacing between each them. Then the parents turned to check that their youngsters were in line and ready.

There was no starter's gun but together the four swans flapped their wings and took to the air. The line up photo was taken with my camera on full zoom but with no time to adjust the settings as the flight started I used my phone.

The swans circled the pond and the first three landed safely at the far end of the pond while number four landed on the nearby grass. There was some thin, water covered ice in the centre of the pond but the swans were well clear .... clever birds.